Fearless in the Face of Adversity
29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 4:29 (NIV)
My seven year old was intent on learning to swim. He was headed to kids’ camp and wanted to be able to go into the deep end. He especially wanted to be able to jump off the diving board.
He had swam for years, but not intentionally. Not to pass a test. After a time in the water, he had mastered swimming across the pool. He began to jump in at deeper and deeper depths, until finally, he approached the diving board. The first time up there without swimmies, he stood on the board and peered into the water cautiously. I finally instructed him, “Jump off the side, I will grab you.” I stationed myself so that he could feel my hand as soon as he emerged. He jumped, he grabbed my hand, and…he was hooked! Within that first trip he was jumping off, doing stunts, and flips. More and more daring all the time. Within a couple of trips, he was doing back flips and handstand dives.
As the headlines heat up against Christians I find myself looking in the deep end of the pool cautiously as well. How much should we say? What difference will Christians taking a stand even make? What if I am met with persecution? Are these questions that invade your mind as well?
In the Scripture today, Peter and John were out preaching the good news, and healing the sick. Walking as Jesus did. And then they began to be met with the same response as Jesus did. Some loved and welcomed them. Others wanted them locked up or dead. There did not seem to be any middle ground.
After being called before the officials, threatened and released, these men did not go underground or into hiding. Rather, they returned to the church for a prayer meeting. They did not pray to be delivered from suffering. They did not pray about how to present the message in a less threatening and intimidating package. No! In fact, it was quite the opposite. These men prayed that they would declare even more boldly!
God gave us his precious son, Jesus, to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. He sent the Holy Spirit to be our Counselor, our helper, to walk beside us. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead- the power of the Holy Spirit- is available on the Earth today to assist Christians with carrying out the Great Commission. Resurrection power. Boldness. Death defying strength. So why, why, why (?) does the church cower in fear? We should, we must, arise in the boldness of the early disciples and in the power of the Holy Spirit, and declare His truth. Time is short. People need to hear the message that we have. Just because it is hard, does not means it is not God’s path for us!
Do you struggle with fear about the future of Christianity in America? In the world? Do you want to make a difference but find yourself shrinking back in timidity and fear? Join me, today, in prayer:
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus. Shake us with the power of the Holy Spirit that we might proclaim your truth all the more boldly. I am Your vessel, O Lord. Fill me, use me. Speak through me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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Thank you for this word of encouragement and reason. We can’t cower but neither can the church lash out in hateful opposition. There must be a balanced response marked by faith and reliance on allowing God to bring about His justice. It’s a difficult place for us to be right now, and we know without an awakening, it will get worse. But, we know the end of the story, don’t we, so we must pray for strength and readiness to be His instruments of peace and hope.
Yes, Libby I agree! The love of God must compel us! But the final result will be worth it all!